Akron " The husband and mother-in-law of Twinsburg murder victim Sejal Patel will spend at least 25 and 30 years, respectively, behind bars.
Chetankumar Patel and Minaxiben Patel, both convicted of aggravated murder in the 28-year-old's 2005 death, were sentenced to life in prison early Nov. 28 by Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. The pair also received an extra four years total each for tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
"Chetan," 33, could be paroled in 30 years, while "Minaxi," 50, could leave jail in 25, the judge ruled.
Both defendants told Burnham Unruh that they maintained their innocence in the strangulation death of Sejal. Their attorneys, Carolyn Mulligan and John Wheeler, said their clients planned to appeal.
Prior to the sentencing, Sejal's mother, Lata Patel, told the judge, "What problem did [Chetan] have? He could have just divorced her and she could have come home to my house."
Two others were convicted earlier this year in the death of Sejal Patel, who was found strangled to death July 2, 2005, in an SUV parked at the Chrysler Stamping Plant.
For the story, see the Dec. 6 Twinsburg Bulletin.